#51 Team News and Links Page
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#51 Team Past News and Rumors
(NOTE: some older links may not work)
- Contract Status: Driver: ?; Sponsor: ?
- #51 Team Selling Inventory UPDATE Auction: As of last week, the #51 Competitive Edge Motorsports Nextel Cup team have closed their doors and moved their sponsorship to the Petty organization. With that said, the team is selling their entire inventory at reduced rates, check out their website at www.cemotorsports.net for more info.(8-17-2006)
UPDATE: the team is now auctioning off the equipment at eBay - Item #170024143724.(8-31-2006)
- #51 Team ceases operations, sponsorship to Petty's UPDATE 2 Garvey?: been told that the #51 Competitive Edge Motorsports team has ceased operations and have confirmed that Marathon Petroleum Company will become major associate sponsor with Petty Enterprises with the #45 Dodge of Kyle Petty being most involved in the sponsorship as an associate sponsor at most races and primary sponsor of the #45 for a few races with the #43 Dodge of Bobby Labonte featuring the Marathon Petroleum Company logo at some races.(8-1-2006)
UPDATE: Marathon Petroleum Company announced that the company's sponsorship in the Nextel Cup series is being moved to a new race team. The new sponsorship will begin with the Allstate 400 race at the Brickyard in Indianapolis. “Marathon is proud to move our sponsorship to the #45 Petty Enterprises team, with driver Kyle Petty,” said Mary Ellen Peters, senior vice president, Marketing. “The team is owned by Richard Petty, the man known as the ‘King of NASCAR.' We believe this move provides a continued presence for Marathon in all of the remaining races this season.” In addition to the Brickyard sponsorship, the #45 car will carry the Marathon Brand as the primary sponsor for four races: Michigan, Bristol, Richmond, and Atlanta. Marathon also will be an associate sponsor on the car for this season's remaining races. “We're grateful that Competitive Edge Motorsports is allowing Marathon Oil to transfer their sponsorship,” said Kyle Petty, driver of the #45 Petty Enterprises Dodge. “We are looking forward to developing a strong partnership with Marathon , starting this weekend at one of the biggest events of the season.”(Petty Racing PR)(8-3-2006)
So what happens with Garvey? Mike Garvey is out of a Nextel Cup ride. His former team, [#51] Competitive Edge Motorsports, has been idled, and the sponsor, Marathon Oil has switched to Kyle Petty's #45 Dodge. But Garvey said Thursday that that's not all bad. Even though he qualified for four races this year he had grown weary of trying to race without enough funds, equipment, testing or crew members. "We did the best we could with what we had," Garvey said. He said he's talking to some teams about running some Busch races later this season, and he plans to run either Busch or Hooters Pro Cup next year.(Atlanta Journal-Constitution)(8-4-2006)
- Garvey will return to Nextel Cup, new crew chief: Mike Garvey, absent from the Cup circuit for the past three weeks, said his #51 team [owned by Joe Auer/Competitive Edge Motorsports] is entering this weekend's Nextel Open and next week's Coca-Cola 600 more prepared than it has been for other races this year. He said the team skipped three races to work on its cars, and it appears to have paid off based on the results of a recent test session at Lowe's Motor Speedway. "We decided that showing up at the track not ready to race is worse that not showing up at all," Garvey said. "We needed to step back and reorganize a bit." His team plans to run 15 more races this year and is trying to secure the services of veteran crew chief Butch Hylton, who will be with the team at Lowe's this weekend.(Atlanta Journal-Constitution)(5-20-2006)
- #51 Team makes 2006 debut at Calif: The Competitive Edge Motorsports Marathon #51 Chevy team and driver Mike Garvey are ready to get their season under way in California. The team is excited about their enhanced product, with new bodies on the cars and a new engine program with help from General Motors. “We’ve improved some things over the winter to increase our efforts this year,” said team owner Joe Auer of Competitive Edge Motorsports. “Our bodies are better, engines are getting where they need to be, and overall infrastructure is growing. Our goal is to get into all 20 races we enter, and really become more competitive this year.” After testing 12th quickest in Las Vegas recently, Garvey and the team are confident about California.(CEM PR)(2-22-2006)
- #51 Team names driver and sched: #51 Competitive Edge Motorsports has teamed with driver Mike Garvey for the upcoming Nextel Cup season. Garvey is well-known in the racing circuit where he has driven in almost every racing series, including ASA, Craftsman Truck, Busch, and NASCAR Nextel Cup [in the #66, now #61 and #75 in 2005]. In 2005, Garvey qualified nine times for the Nextel Cup Series races, with his best finish of 25th place at Pocono. The Marathon American Spirit Motor Oil #51 Chevy will open up the 2006 season at the California Speedway on February 26 with a fresh focus on elevating performance. Competitive Edge Motorsports will follow the California race with races at Las Vegas, Atlanta, Bristol and Martinsville. The Marathon Chevrolet #51 Team and Garvey will be testing in Las Vegas, January 30 to February 1. "The team has done an outstanding job with the 2006 body and the preparation is going as planned. The cars are really good. It should get interesting this year," said Garvey. "We're nearly ready for the new season, and we're looking forward to the upcoming tests at Las Vegas. With refreshed bodies and engines for the cars, an experienced driver, and a team with focused enthusiasm, we expect 2006 to be our best yet," Competitive Edge Motorsports owner Joe Auer concluded.(Yahoo Biz)(1-30-2006)
- #51 Team gets assoc sponsor: Print Media Inc. has joined forces with #51 Competitive Edge Motorsports for the first four races of their 2006 NASCAR Nextel Cup campaign. Jordan Wachtell, President of Print Media, said, "As one of America's top business printers, we are proud to be part of such a first-class operation. We look forward to a long term relationship with Competitive Edge." Competitive Edge Motorsports owner, Joe Auer, looks forward to the chance of representing Print Media, Inc. at the track and throughout his other business relations. “There is no better place to supplement your marketing efforts than NASCAR. The quality of work and service Print Media provides, gives me the confidence to recommend them to our other business relations throughout the country, and we are glad to have them aboard.” The #51 Marathon Chevy team will test two cars in Las Vegas with Mike Garvey driving the cars, January 30-31 and Feb 1. Later on that month, the team will start their race season in California February 26.(Competitive Edge Motorsports PR)(1-23-2006)
- #51 Team Scales Back a bit: been told the #51 Competitive Edge Motorsports team will not run the full 2006 Cup season, opting out of the restrictor plate races [Daytona/Talladega] and attrempting as much of the other races as possible. Mike Garvey is scheduled to test the #51 Marathon Petroleum Company Chevy at Las Vegas at the end of January.(1-13-2006)
- Kirby out of the #51 UPDATE: hearing Stuart Kirby and the #51 Competitive Edge Motorsports team have parted ways and the Phoenix Entry List now shows Bryan Reffner driving the car.(11-10-2005)
UPDATE: Competitive Edge places Mike Garvey in the Marathon #51 car this weekend for the Ford 400 in Miami. This is not the first time Mike joined forces with Competitive Edge, as he drove for them in the Busch Series 2 years ago.
“I am excited to get back with Competitive Edge and the Auers. It is a pleasure to work with such a professional group,” said Garvey. “It’s great to get Mike back in the car with Walter [Giles],” said team owner Joe Auer.(CEM PR)(11-16-2005)
UPDATE 2: As the 2005 NASCAR Nextel Cup Season draws to a close, many teams, including the Marathon American Spirit Motor Oil Chevy, are adjusting their programs to improve performance in 2006. A recent evaluation of the racing effort has resulted in a mutual decision for Competitive Edge Motorsports and driver Stuart Kirby to go their separate ways. "We know that Stuart is popular with Marathon employees and racing fans, which made this a tough decision for both parties, but it needed to be made now to improve to the next level of performance," said team owner Joe Auer III. "NASCAR Nextel Cup racing demands that the team continually improve." A decision on a replacement for Stuart will be made during the off-season.(Competitive Edge Motorsports/CEM Site)(11-17-2005)
- Garvey in the #51 at Homestead: Competitive Edge places Mike Garvey in the Marathon #51 car this weekend for the Ford 400 in Miami. This is not the first time Mike joined forces with Competitive Edge, as he drove for them in the Busch Series 2 years ago.
“I am excited to get back with Competitive Edge and the Auers. It is a pleasure to work with such a professional group,” said Garvey. “It’s great to get Mike back in the car with Walter [Giles],” said team owner Joe Auer.(CEM PR)(11-16-2005)
- #51 adds sponsorship: In addition to Marathon Oil, the #51 CEM team with driver Stuart Kirby announces two additional companies coming onboard for the weekend race at Texas. The first is New Holland, a brand of CNH, a global leader in agriculture, construction equipment and financial services, which will have a decal located in front of the rear tire. The second is American Eurocopter, a company specializing in the manufacturing of helicopters with a plant in the Dallas area, which will have a decal on the lower rear quarter panel.(CEM PR)(11-3-2005)
- Kirby back in action at Indy in the Marathon's "American Spirit": Stuart Kirby is ready to take the #51 Marathon Chevy to the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard knowing it will be one of his toughest challenges yet. After a very solid practice in Indy two weeks ago, the Marathon Chevy is poised to qualify at the Brickyard. "I think it will take a 49.50 (seconds) or better to make the race this weekend," Kirby said confidently. "Because of the new rules and the quantity and quality of entrants, however, it will be one of the toughest qualifying runs of the year." Competitive Edge Motorsports (CEM) and Stuart Kirby will attempt to make it three in a row for this young team. "The more time we spend together, the better we get. All the guys in the shop are doing an outstanding job with the preparation of these cars and getting the Marathon Chevrolet ready to compete," said team owner, Joe Auer. CEM is also sporting a different paint scheme for the Brickyard. Marathon's "American Spirit" motor oil will be on the #51 Chevy with the American Flag on the sides.(Competitive Edge Motorsports)(8-3-2005)
IMAGE see images of thre car on my #51 Team Schemes page.(8-4-2005)
- #51 CEM Team partners with Marathon Oil: Marathon Ashland Petroleum has begun a multi-year marketing partnership with Competitive Edge Motorsports (CEM), which starts this weekend at the Batman Begins 400. Stuart Kirby will be driving the Marathon #51 Chevy. Joe Auer, owner of CEM, said, "A number of people have been working on this deal for quite some time, and it's finally finished. This partnership with a major company like Marathon will bring our race team to a new level. We are very grateful that Marathon has agreed to become our primary sponsor. They are truly a great organization to work with." "We want to build this relationship with Marathon and build our race team one step at a time" Auer said. The partnership consists of a 12-race package throughout the rest of the 2005 season. Starting in 2006, CEM plans on being a regular in the Nextel Cup Series. CEM has been involved in one of NASCAR's top-tier divisions for the last three years. CEM is also unveiling their new driver, Stuart Kirby, a talented young driver out of Bowling Green, Kentucky. "Stuart is the type of guy we can build a long term marketing plan around," CEM team owner, Joe Auer, commented. Fox sportscasters, Darrell Waltrip and Mike Joy have both called Kirby one of the most phenomenal young drivers they have seen in years. More information about CEM at www.cemotosports.net.(617-2005)
- #51 gets sponsor, Consort for Homestead: Former Miami Dolphin Half Back, MVP Joe Auer is bringing his NASCAR Nextel Cup team #51 to the Ford 400 this weekend in Homestead to attempt to qualify. His driver, Tony Raines, and team, Competitive Edge Motorsports (CEM) is getting together with Consort Hair Care for the last race of the season at the Homestead-Miami Speedway. Because his team is only running a partial schedule this year, they are 47th in owner points and they have to qualify in the top 38. “Provisionals are not really an option. Sometimes, it is very nerve racking,” Auer said. “It is great to be back in the neighborhood I grew up in. Seeing some old friends and relatives is always nice.” CEM and Tony Raines have their work cut out for them this weekend with 56 entrants for 38 spots. They do have a couple of angles though. Tony Raines qualified 19th here last year and placed 13th in the same car in his rookie year. For more information about Consort, visit www.savetheregularguy.com.(Competitive Edge Motorsports PR)(11-18-2004)
- Marathon #51 Chevrolet to race in UAW-GM Quality 500: This weekend, the #51 Marathon Chevrolet driven by Tony Raines, will be racing at the Lowe's Motor Speedway. "We appreciate Marathon's sponsorship support," said Joe Auer, team owner. Auer also announced that the team's crew chief for this race will be Mark Tudor. Auer further commented, "We've been working hard on our engine and Raines has been driving great, we are really looking forward to this weekend's race."(Competitive Edge Motorsports PR)(10-13-2004)
- #51 Team gets sponor for Dover....Buddy Lee: Lee Jeans says it will sponsor Competitive Edge Motorsports' #51 Chevrolet in this weekend's MBNA America 400 at Dover International Speedway. The clothing manufacturer says it will put its "Buddy Lee" icon on the car, which is scheduled to be driven by Tony Raines. Buddy Sisco will be the crew chief. Financial terms were not announced.(NASCAR Scene Daily Newsletter)(9-21-2004)
